Video: NUFC players training yesterday

We were at Benton yesterday where we invited to take in Newcastle’s final preparations before Sunday’s derby. Here’s a video our photographer shot:

13:35Craig Johns

Carragher on Benitez-Allardyce feud

As well as his thoughts on working under Benitez, Carragher also gave his thoughts on the feud between Benitez and Allardyce who will be in opposite dug-outs once again tomorrow.

He wrote in the Daily Mail:

Rafa has never liked Allardyce since their first meeting in August 2004 at Bolton. That was Rafa’s ‘welcome to England’ game, when he saw Sami Hyypia get his nose broken by Kevin Davies during one of the aerial assaults on our goal. We lost 1-0 and Rafa couldn’t believe what we had faced.

I don’t buy this idea, though, that Allardyce was some sort of bogeyman for Benitez. Allardyce has not achieved anywhere near as much as Benitez as a manager and how could he have got under his skin when Rafa has won seven of the 12 matches — including all six at home — when they have played against each other?

Where Rafa didn’t help himself was making comments that rubbed other managers up the wrong way. I always felt that when we played against Allardyce’s teams, they wanted the points off us more than they did against Manchester United.

Do not doubt how much Allardyce would love to relegate Benitez — he has never forgotten a gesture Rafa made to imply Blackburn were finished during their 4-0 defeat at Anfield in April 2009.

13:27KEY EVENT

Jamie Carragher on Rafa Benitez

Jamie Carragher has written his latest column for the Daily Mail on his former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.

And the pundit has mirrored the thoughts of Steven Gerrard from his autobiography, saying why Benitez isn’t the type to go in looking to boost each of the players’ confidence he says he is a great tactician.

He wrote:

They haven’t appointed someone who will work to bond the squad or who will take a player aside, put an arm around him and leave him feeling a million dollars.

Just because he isn’t a larger than life character, it doesn’t mean he won’t have the impact for which Newcastle are hoping.

What Newcastle have got is a manager who players will listen to because of his cv, someone who is excellent in one-off games. He is brilliant at stopping the opposition from playing and that is one of the reasons we did so well in Europe during his time in charge at Liverpool.

Teams hated playing against us. The games would be horrible for the opposition because we would not give them any space to breathe. If you asked me to say the one word I heard most during training and games, it would be him shouting ‘compact’.

After the first year of working with Rafa, we were like robots. By that I mean we knew exactly what he wanted us to do and when to do it. This came about through repetition on the training ground, the drills being done over and over again until he was satisfied.

It demanded a high level of concentration and there was no laughing or joking.

Rafa was intense and you had to be prepared for him to physically push and pull you into the positions, but the results followed. As I said, though, it took 12 months for us to really understand his methods and we had much better players. Will Newcastle feel the benefit within two months?

13:20Craig Johns

Happy birthday Warren Barton

It’s ex-Toon player Warren Barton’s birthday today and the club sent him a happy birthday message on Twitter this morning.

Barton thanked them and also asked for a late present with three points in tomorrow’s derby.

12:48Craig Johns

Don Hutchison's derby prediction

Don Hutchison - our Journal columnist - is an ex-Sunderland player but is also of course a Newcastle fan.

In his Premier League predictions this week he has predicted a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.

Just one issue though - those Sunderland and Southampton badges are looking a bit funny...

Norwich updates

One big one to look out for today at 3pm - relegation rivals Norwich are away at West Brom.

West Brom are still not completely out of danger just yet but have comfortable gap which you would think would be too much to overcome.

No doubt the best result for Newcastle is either where Norwich don’t win.

We’ll keep you updated from 3pm on events there, as well other games such as Crystal Palace’s game with Leicester.

11:55KEY EVENT

Video: Rafa's derby press conference in full

Miss any of Rafa Benitez’s press conference yesterday? You can watch the whole thing here:

11:40KEY EVENT

Video: Derby day . . . in 1913

Check out this fantastic footage of derby day back in 1913 . . .

11:37Stuart Jamieson

The minds games that worked - and some that didn't

Both Rafa Benitez and Sam Allardyce seemed keen not to play mind games ahead of tomorrow’s clash (unless that itself was a mind game). But Tyne-Wear managers down the years haven’t been afraid to chuck in the odd hyperbole, some more successfully than others

Rafa: History does not matter

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s clash, Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez insisted that history does not matter in the Tyne-Wear derby as his side look to end a run of six consecutive defeats.

He said:

When you have a derby anything can happen. Every game, every season, every manager - something can change. Hopefully we can change the result and the score will be good for us.

You cannot think about what has happened in the past. It’s what you do on the pitch and what happens in the future. The players know that each game can be different. They know that they played against Leicester who are at the top of the table and we done a good job. We lost and I know that is the main thing, but we could see some positives so I try to bring the positives into the derby and approach it knowing we have done good things.

10:56Craig Johns

Welcome

Newcastle United host Sunderland at St James Park tomorrow, hoping to end a run of six consecutive derby defeats.The Black Cats have gone on the longest winning run in Tyne-Wear derby history, most recently winning the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light earlier this season 3-0.That game was Sam Allardyce’s second game in charge of the Wearsiders continuing the tradition of their last three managers who all won their second game in charge against Newcastle after losing their first.That is reversed this time around, however, as new Magpies boss Rafa Benitez takes charge of his first home game after Monday night’s defeat to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.This clash has been billed as one of the biggest derbies for years. With just nine games remaining for both sides it’s looking increasingly likely that two of Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich will be relegated from the Premier League. As such it’s had the six-pointer clichéd label added to it - although this time is does seem apt.The atmosphere is likely to be electric inside St James’ Park, with Rafa’s home debut only likely to increase the anticipation on Tyneside.Join Craig Johns and Stuart Jamieson for build-up throughout the day ahead of tomorrow’s huge derby clash.